Sky Lagoon Iceland Review: Everything You Need to Know
Are you planning on visiting the Sky Lagoon in Iceland? Here’s our full review of the Sky Lagoon and everything you need to know.
One of the highlights of our recent trip to Iceland has got to be the Sky Lagoon. Iceland is famous for its thermal pools, and the Sky Lagoon is one of the newer ones.
Located closest to Reykjavik, the Sky Lagoon is like a giant thermal infinity pool overlooking the ocean. It’s a beautiful setting with a design that feels modern but still highlights Iceland’s stunning landscapes.
When it comes to thermal spas in Iceland, there are a lot to choose from. So, if you’re debating visiting the Sky Lagoon in Iceland, here’s everything you need to know.
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❤️ We highly recommend visiting the Sky Lagoon – it’s such a relaxing experience and the ritual is fantastic!
What is the Sky Lagoon?
The Sky Lagoon is Iceland’s newest geothermal spa experience. It’s one of the best things to do in Reykjavik, located in Kópavogur, about a 20-minute drive from the city centre, and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
Designed to blend seamlessly with nature, the lagoon features an infinity-edge pool with stunning ocean views. However, it’s not just a pool.
The thing we loved most about the Sky Lagoon was its unique seven-step ritual, which combines a cold plunge, steam room, and a body scrub with the soothing heat of the lagoon.
How to Get to the Sky Lagoon
There are several ways to reach the Sky Lagoon from Reykjavik.
If you’re hiring a car in Iceland – undoubtedly the best way to get around the country – then you can easily drive. This only takes around 20 minutes, and there’s parking right outside the lagoon.
If you don’t have a car, Sky Lagoon also offers a shuttle service from the city centre. This can be booked when you book your tickets and runs multiple times per day.
There are various pickup locations throughout Reykjavik, so this is an easy and convenient way to reach the lagoon.
❤️ You can book tickets to the Sky Lagoon with a transfer here.
What to Expect When You Visit
When you first arrive, you’ll check in at the reception area and then be given your wristbands and shown through to the changing area.
The first wristband opens the lockers and can be used to buy drinks at the bar. There is also a second black wristband which gives you access to the 7-step ritual, but this depends on which package you buy.
The changing rooms are also different depending on your package. We had private changing rooms with individual cubicles and private showers.
As with all geothermal spas in Iceland, showering naked before entering the water is mandatory, so having an individual cubicle made this much more comfortable for us.
We’ve visited spas in Iceland before where you have to shower naked in front of other people, so we definitely appreciated the privacy!
After you’re showered and changed, put your stuff in the locker and head over to the pool. You can walk straight through to the pool from the changing rooms, so even in winter, you won’t get too cold.
Once you’re in the pool, it’s simply time to relax. Sit on one of the many seating areas around the lagoon, swim under the waterfall, head to the swim-up bar to grab a cocktail (or a mocktail if you’re the designated driver), and relax.
And, of course, don’t forget about the 7-step ritual.
❤️ We definitely recommend getting Sky Lagoon tickets that include the 7-step ritual!
The 7-Step Ritual
This was our favourite part of our visit to the Sky Lagoon and is one of the things that makes the lagoon so unique. To the left of the main pool, you’ll see a large turf house – this is where you go for the ritual.
The first step is the cold plunge. This is right in front of the turf house and not for the faint-hearted. It was extremely cold, and we lasted about 30 seconds!
The next stage is inside the turf house. At this point, the staff inside will take your black wristband. The ritual is one-use only, and once you’ve been through all the steps, you can’t go back in.
For step two, you’ll grab a small towel from the rack and head into the sauna.
There are two sides to the sauna – one is strictly device-free, which means you can’t use your phone or camera there. We really loved this as it allows you to fully disconnect and relax.
Of course, we also headed into the other side to snap some pictures, and the views are insane. Some of the best sauna views we’ve ever seen!
After the sauna comes the cold mist. This is something we’ve never seen in a spa before and was incredibly unique. It’s basically an open room with freezing mist raining down on you from above.
It was very cool (pun intended!) and brought our body temperature back down after the heat of the sauna.
After the cold mist, we went into the next room where we were each given a small dish of buddy scrub. We were told to rub this into our skin and then head into the steam room for 10 minutes.
The scrub was gritty but smelt delicious, and once inside the steam room, the heat opened up our pores and allowed the scrub to work its magic. I don’t think my skin has ever felt so soft!
Once we left the steam room, the 6th step was a shower to wash off the last of the scrub. Then, finally, step 7 was a traditional shot of a smoothie-type drink. It was tangy and tasty and a great way to end the ritual.
After that, we headed back to the pool to relax for a while longer before heading back to Reykjavik.
When to Visit the Sky Lagoon
The great thing about places like this in Iceland is that they can be visited all year round. In the summer, you have the midnight sun and warmer weather, but typically higher prices and more crowds.
The winter brings northern lights (if you’re lucky) and wintery scenery. There’s something really magical about soaking in a hot lagoon surrounded by snow. This was our experience for the Forest Lagoon, and we loved it!
The spring and autumn are shoulder months, so things are typically quieter and you’ll find fewer crowds in the water.
The best time to visit really depends on what experience you’re after – there genuinely isn’t a right or wrong answer here, and you can visit all year round.
Top Tips for Visiting
To make the most of your Sky Lagoon experience, be sure to book your tickets in advance – slots can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons. We recommend booking the 7-step ritual, as this really was a highlight for us.
Also, be aware of what’s included in your ticket – particularly with the changing room situation if you know you’ll be uncomfortable changing in front of strangers.
Bring a swimsuit (although rentals are available), and you won’t need flip-flops. We were told to leave everything else, including our towels, in the locker rooms.
Finally, if you’re visiting outside the midnight sun during the summer months, consider visiting around sunset for a truly magical atmosphere, or after dark in the winter to try and catch the northern lights.
❤️ You can book tickets to the Sky Lagoon all year round!
Is the Sky Lagoon in Iceland Worth it?
Yes, the Sky Lagoon is definitely worth visiting. While it may not have the famous milky waters of the Blue Lagoon, the scenery is insane, and we really enjoyed the ritual.
We loved the way the spa felt modern, but included traditional Icelandic touches like the turf house and the rock columns resembling basalt on the south coast. Plus, the ocean views were absolutely breathtaking.
So, overall, we recommend adding the Sky Lagoon to your Iceland bucket list. It is a beautiful place and a really magical way to unwind.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to join our free Facebook Group to ask us anything!
👉 Need a place to stay in Reykjavik? Check out our favourite hotels in the capital!
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